For Dallas-Ft. Worth area UofL alumni, the impact of Hurricane Rita - soon to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Texas - is limited so far. There has been higher than usual traffic at both groceries and gas stations, but otherwise today was a typical Thursday - if more than a bit hot.
For Houstonians and other south Texans, however, Rita has already has had significant effect, even as the first bands of rain just begin to strike the coast.
For the last two days, there has been a massive exodus of people westward on I-10 and northward on I-45. Here in DFW, we are feeling this, as our freeways are crowded with the traffic of those from other parts of the state seeking shelter from the storm.
Hotels are full all the way into Oklahoma, and given Rita's strength (currently at Category 4), many of those who have evacuated have no idea what may await them when they eventually return.
Based on the current projected hurricane track, here in DFW, we don't expect to receive more than a series of hard rain showers from Rita, as we will be on the western (i.e., weaker) side of the system. But hurricanes are fickle beasts, and if Rita begins to wobble back toward the west, we could get a worse than predicted weather event.
Certainly we know by watching what happened with Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama what a strong hurricane is capable of. At this time of crisis for our state, our thoughts and prayers are with all the displaced citizens of the great state of Texas - especially any with ties to the University of Louisville.
Please be safe.
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